Woman Who Lost Son In Canal Says She Tried To Save Him

"I Jumped In To Save Him," Yvette Valencia Says

The body of a 5-year-old boy was pulled from a canal just north of Norris Road and his mother spoke with 23ABC about what happened.

Sheriff's officials said that Dominick Valencia was walking with his mother when he slipped into a canal at about 12:30 p.m. Thursday.

Yvette Valencia, Dominick's mother, said that she was walking to the store with her son and he stopped because he saw a fish in the canal.

"I kept calling him to come to me, but he wouldn't come," Valencia said.

"He slipped in and I jumped in after him. There was nothing to grab onto." Valencia said she immediately jumped in and was able to grab onto Dominick, grabbing him by his shirt as they were going down the canal.

"I couldn't hold on to him any longer," Valencia told 23ABC.

Valencia told 23ABC reporter Christine Dinh that she reached an area in the canal where she was able to pull herself out of the canal.

"I just watched as my boy traveled down the canal," Valencia said.

Valencia said that she ran out onto the street and yelled for someone to help her.

"By the time everyone showed up, my son was nowhere to be seen," Valencia told 23ABC.

"People tell me he was precious. He was beautiful. He was always by my side, I always took care of him."

Officials used a helicopter as well as boat and ground crews to search for the child.

At about 2:45 p.m. Thursday, divers were sent out into the canal to search for the boy.

At about 4:20 p.m., divers pulled the boy's body from the canal.

Dominick's body was found about a half mile from where he fell into the water.

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